“Never doubt the capacity of the people you lead to accomplish whatever you dream for them” Ben Zander

I had the pleasure of viewing a motivational video on Mr. Ben Zander this past month. Ben is the conductor for the Boston Philharmonic, and one of the most passionate men you will ever read about. Ben teaches his symphony to play to the emotions of the audience…and never forget that the audience NEEDS them to express the feeling of the music as well as just the notes of the music. If a musician is playing a dance, the audience should have a difficult to squash urge to get up and dance!

Yes, I realize that musicians are artists and artists are a different breed than your average Joe.  But why can't we all be more passionate about what's important to us?  Ben is a man who breeds passion in others. 

We are all leaders in life. If you doubt that – think about the people around you and in your life. Maybe you manage others at work, but if not, think about your family, friends, significant other, even your own self. Every one of us leads our own life.

Here are some tidbits from Ben Zander:

• Sit in the front seat of your life
• Jump into your life like a pebble in a lake and watch the ripples
• Quiet the voice inside your head. Yes, everyone has one…you know the one. It's the voice that says “You aren't good enough for that promotion” “You screwed up this passage before….it's coming at you again…you're going to screw it up again!” It's the voice that keeps us from throwing ourselves into what we are doing.
• You can't stop the voice…but try this. Say to the voice: “Thanks for sharing…but I'm BUSY HERE!”
• Steer clear of the downward spiral conversations. These are the ones that focus on what's wrong, and how it can never be any better or different. These conversations are common in work meetings and in relationship discussions.
• Instead, think – “What do I want to have happen.”
• Be aware of what affect you are having on the people around you.
• Be engaged.
• Invent a new game – life is what you invent.
• Realize that YOU are a contribution to whatever it is that's happening around you
• If you don't like it – change what you are contributing
• When you make a mistake, say “How fascinating!!!”
• Always remember Rule # 6 – Don't take yourself so seriously
• What are the other rules?
• There are no other rules.

I would like to say a big "thank you" to this year's Board of Directors and Committee Members:  Tanna Hollinger, Anne Johnson, Mary Mobley, Lorri Salmon, Lena Weitz, Debra Walker, Sarah Mastin, Jonna Mertens , Tamara Larson, Marsha Schorer, B.J. Sprague, our Regional Director, Sharron O'Donnell and National Board member Eleanor Siverts-Akerman . Many thanks to all of them for their hard work, sense of humor and unfailing support for me!

It has been my pleasure to be your leader this past year and I will start working on using more of Ben's tips in the future! I look forward to seeing you at the June meeting

   Andrea Smith